Hundreds of novels have been written about young men coming of age in war. And millions of young men have, in fact, come of age in combat. This is the story of Joe Ted (Bud) Miller, as told by his daughter, based on the daily letters he wrote to his family in 1944 and 1945. Bud's journalistic skills show in his letters and fill his reports with a wealth of objective detail, as well as articulate reflections on his feelings about his experiences. Katherine I. Miller, a communication scholar, brings to her father's letters-which form the centerpiece of the book-her scholarly training in analyzing issues such as the development of masculinity in historical context, the formation of adult identity, and the psychological effects of war..